Thursday, October 21, 2010

Serenity Now: Bacon and Jalapeño Mac 'n' Cheese

Did you ever seen the "Serenity Now" Seinfeld episode?

All week long I've been whispering under my breath, "serenity now".

Too many deadlines, piles and piles of mail to go through, random cat fur balls in the corner of the livingroom, a counter that needs to be cleared off and laundry to the brim. People dancing on my last nerve. Serenity now.

All I want to do is bake heaps of peanut butter cookies with mounds of chocolate in the center...and eat them all. Food is not the answer. Well maybe it is a little. The Chef's cat has taken up residence on my lap - all day long. She's nothing like my cats who are content to sit at my feet. Instead she wants to be body half on the computer, body half on me slowly inching closer and closer to the keys until she finally goes in for the swat! Not so helpful when you're trying to get a project accomplished, much less a blog post. Last night it became apparent around, oh, eight o'clock that I was near the end of my rope. I heard some clanking in the kitchen, but blocked it out. A short while later a knock at the door brought one of my faves.

The picture does not do this dish justice, but last night it was not about pictures or blog posts or making things pretty. Last night was about reality. And much needed serenity now.

Bacon and Jalapeño Mac 'n' Cheese

(which the Chef so aptly called:

'Mac for you that I didn't get any of since I drank the last Hansen's').

Sauce
Preheat oven to 400. Sauté bacon on low heat till crispy. Add the jalapeno's and cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in flour (he used my gluten free flour blend from an earlier post) and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Slowly drizzle in the cream while stirring. Bring the cream mixture to a boil then reduce to simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and whisk in cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Hold warm.

Why do you think it is that people persist in being annoying over the pettiest of things? Especially when they know exactly what they're doing, but think they're so smart that no one can see it? It amazes me. One would think that with all the sad and more important things going on in the world focus would lie on those matters - rather than acting like children or, worse yet, cats in a bag. Shakes head profusely.

Eek, it sounds like a stressful week! Comfort food is often the way to go (or TEA! Yesss :P). Chef is soo funny, I love it when you post about your conversations and things, it seems like you have such a good relationship :) Sending you lots of calming and positive vibes!

I am obssesed with Seinfeld, sweetie...Balazs and I love watching it and we have all the seasons...Im sorry that people are getting to you...and you know when I have a bad day I always think about one of the Seinfeld characters and then I am all happy again:)You made my morning with that clip:)Hugs

Yum, yum, yum! My son would LOVE this... I will try it and let you know how it turns out. I have two dogs that act just like that cat. It's almost Halloween do you have your Alien costume in tact? (Seriously, I keep bringing up Pelican Hill in Newport to Tim... dropping hints - if we make it out there eventually I HAVE to meet you in person)! xo

I was never a big Seinfield watcher.. but that's really funny :) My favorite is the "schmoopy" episode.. only because it's a joke bw my fiance and i.. hehe. but on a more important note.. OMG. that dish is UNREAL. not so sure J would enjoy it with the large amounts of bacon and jalepenos.. but like Merciblahblah said... "YOU HAD ME AT JALEPENO AND BACON".. lol. :) i am saving this recipe in my box asap.

now... Perk up! It's closer to Friday than yesterday was!!! You can do it girl!!!!

YUMO! I LOVE Mac N Cheese!! Although being product of growing up-a-la-boxed-mac I haven't found a good recipe for homemade :( This one looks perfect....Going to have to try it, maybe even this weekend with looming rain! Thanks mama's! (Yes yes, he didn't deserve any if he drank the last Hansens....that stuff is the bomb! which is why i can't buy it anymore...addicting! LOL!

Hahah - I've never seen that episode, but I love it. I'm right there with you with that feeling of too many things to do all the time. I've worked 3 thirteen hour work days in a row, I'm exhausted, and I'm hosting my first party at my new house on Saturday - WAYYY too many things to do. What was I thinking? Serenity Now. ha

I'm an executive (and often personal) assistant, and I work from my boss' home-he's in NY this week, but his girlfriend is here at the house. This morning, in a ball on the floor of his office, was a collection of bath mats and towels that had to be marched past the washer/dryer, topped with a note asking me to wash them.

hahahahaha! your photo caption is killing me. how considerate of your Chef though, really. i'm pretty sure my hubbers would run through traffic for bacon mac n cheese. and he certainly would never relinquish it, no matter how grevious the offense. :P

goodness! Get rid of that bacon and I'd be all about this. As a southerner, I am prideful and picky about mac & cheese . . . usually, I won't order it at restaurants cause I think mine is better (ha). And those breadcrumbs? YUM! This is getting me all excited for Thanksgiving . . .

THAT mac and cheese would cure almost anything in my opinion. It looks glorious. I hope your day is going better today! It has been one of those weeks, hasn't it. And with the rain, all I want to do is go back to bed with a cup of tea (thanks to your post, I've had a cup of tea every day since). Is it Friday yet?

Genius. Absolutely genius. Anything involving both bacon and mac and cheese is just an absolute must.

Now onto your mental state. I desperately need it to be better, my dear, because you deserve nothing more than to be a very happy camper. May I recommend some serious wisdom from the mouth of one Miss Felicity Porter, a Jamba Juice, and perhaps a nap? Love.xo Josiehttp://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

hahaha Love that episode & Seinfeld in general! Hope you get to have a nice relaxing weekend.. I know - I feel like we're all friends too :) I'm off to meet Nikki & her husband.. too bad you aren't near us to have dinner & drinks! xo

i made homemade mac-n-cheese for the first time last night, and i'll be honest yours looks WAY BETTER. i was going to go back to ready-prepared stuff, but after seeing this post, i'm going to have to try again. (oh, and we had a mac+cheese station at our wedding.. it was too die for!

I love this recipe and would substitute the bacon with something else for myself(i don't eat pork or anything related to it:-)). The jalapeno part is right up my alley though because us island people love our spices!

That looks amazing!!! Must try out this recipe! And as for your cat...we have a cat at the office and I swear she refuses to sit anywhere but on our keyboards. I have no idea how we get any work done so I totally understand! lolxo M

No shit, I woke up this morning with a craving for baked macaroni and cheese (after spending FAR too long trying to be dairy free) and remembered that you had a recipe once upon a time that sounded amazing. I literally just spent far too long searching through your archives to find it... Guess what I'm having for dinner tonight! ;)